National Sport

Dennis willing to wait on drivers

McLaren Group chairman and CEO Ron Dennis has hinted he is prepared to bide his time to land either Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel.

The suggestion from Dennis is current drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen will continue to form the team's line-up for 2015.

That is despite the belief Honda are looking for a stellar name to spearhead their return to the sport after a seven-year hiatus when they become McLaren's power-unit suppliers from next season.

With Alonso contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2016 and Vettel with Red Bull through to the end of next year, Dennis, McLaren and Honda may have to wait.

Speaking to Formula1.com, Dennis said: "We'll always look to employ the best drivers available - but they have to be available, don't they?

"Having said that, for the avoidance of doubt, Jenson and Kevin represent an excellent blend of capable experience and youthful promise, and we're very happy with both of them.

"The fact we're keeping an eye on what a few other drivers are up to in no way contradicts that, because, as I say, if opportunities arise, we'll appraise them - we always have and we always will."

Suggested to Dennis if a team really wants a driver then mountains would be moved to sign him, he replied: "Well, that depends on whether you respect drivers' contracts or not, and I do."

Whether that allays any doubts in Button's mind remains to be seen as the 34-year-old has suggested this week he could be forced to retire from F1 at the end of the season.

Now in his fifth year with McLaren, and 15th overall in F1, Button is in limbo as the Woking-based marque mull over their 2015 line-up.

Given Honda's desire for an A-lister, with Alonso apparently top of the agenda, that has placed McLaren's naming of their drivers for next year on hold.

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Should Alonso be re-signed, given he spent an ignominious year with the team in 2007, there remain n umerous obstacles for McLaren and Honda to clear.

In the meantime, Button does not know if he is staying or going, and so faces the prospect of an exit.

With 259 career starts behind him, Button appreciates the remaining seven races of the current campaign may be his last.

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Speaking to the BBC, the 2009 world champion said: "We haven't sat down and talked about it.

"If I have to retire at the end of the season then so be it, but I feel I have so much more to give and I can't imagine life without motorsport and especially Formula One."

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